Question

I have a function inside a class that returns a reference to a member variable.

std::vector<uint8> & getBuffer() const {    return m_myBuffer; } 

Now say in another class I call this method:

int someFunction() {    std::vector<uint8> myFileBuffer = myFile.getBuffer(); } 

This line calls the copy constructor of vector and makes me a local buffer. I do not want this, how can I instead set myFileBuffer to reference the myFile.getBuffer().

I know I can do this via pointers but wanted to use references if it is possible.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Note since your member method is const you should be returning a const reference.

// Note the extra const on this line. std::vector<uint8> const& getBuffer() const {     return m_myBuffer; } 

So to use the returned value by reference do this:

std::vector<uint8> const& myFileBuffer = myFile.getBuffer();